Down 0-16 Tyrone 0-9: NINE UNANSWERED second-half points by Down saw them beat All-Ireland champions Tyrone at Páirc Esler, Newry, yesterday. The victory looks likely to secure a semi-final place.

Tyrone, who fielded less than half of their All-Ireland winning side, went in at half-time level on 0-6. However, in the second period, Down moved up a gear and as the game progressed it was evident Tyrone, who had just returned from a holiday in Florida on Friday, began to feel the jet lag.

But for a goal-line clearance by Peter Donnelly from Benny Coulter, Tyrone would have been much further behind at the finish.

Tyrone led by 0-2 to 0-1 after four minutes with points from Stephen O'Neill and Ray Mulgrew while Down's point came from Conor Garvey. The sides were level at 0-3 each at the end of the first quarter before two Hugh Davey points put the winners two ahead. Tyrone finished the half with points from Stephen O'Neill and Tommy McGuigan.

Down took the lead two minutes into the second half with a Michael Magee point, but Tyrone struck for points by Stephen O'Neill and Seán Cavanagh to go one ahead. But that was their last score until added time. Down's Jack Lynch and Joe Ireland won the midfield battle and John Fegan, Michael Magee, John Boyle, Daniel Hughes and Benny Coulter slotted over points as they ran out winners.

Referee Padraig Hughes did not have to issue any yellow or red cards.

DOWN: B McVeigh; D Rafferty, M Cole, C Garvey (0-1); K McKernan, L Sloan, H Davey (0-2); J Lynch, J Ireland (0-1); R Sexton, J Boyle (0-1), D Hughes (0-2); J Fegan (0-3), C Magee, M Magee (0-4). Subs: B Coulter (0-2) for C Magee; A Carr for K McKernan; K Duffin for D Rafferty.

TYRONE: J Devine; M Swift, P Donnelly, M Magee; D Harte, S Cavanagh (0-1), P Jordan; K Hughes, A Cassidy; R Mellon, C Doris, G Devlin (0-1); R Mulgrew (0-1), S ONeill (0-5), T McGuigan. Subs: J McMahon for T McGuigan; E McGinley for C Doris; M Penrose for R Mellon; C Holmes for E McGinley.

Referee: P Hughes (Armagh).